Wellbeing@Curtis

Vision

We envision a Curtis community that prioritizes human flourishing and artistry by embracing well-being as a core value. We strive to cultivate an institutional culture where the individual and the collective are valued, included, and supported.

Mission

To foster an environment that supports Curtis students, staff, faculty, and alumni/ae in embracing a holistic mindset and practice of well-being as an integral part of our daily endeavor.

Our approach to Wellbeing@Curtis is multi-dimensional and informed by the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Eight Dimensions of Wellness and the inter-association definition of well-being sponsored by NIRSA, NASPA, ACHA, and the following higher education organizations.

If you are in crisis, we are here to help.
Get Help

Get Help

Is it a medical emergency?  A medical emergency is

  • Bleeding that will not stop • Broken bone • Extreme difficulty breathing
  • Chest pain • Choking • Vomiting blood • Fainting or loss of consciousness • Car or bicycle accident • Severe burn • Sudden severe pain • Sudden change in vision • Swallowing poison
  • Allergic reaction or shock • Seizure • Head or spine injury • Confusion or drastic changes in mental status • Suicidal thoughts

 

Call 9-1-1 or go straight to the nearest emergency room.  Jefferson Hospital Emergency Room is 7 blocks from Curtis, on 11st Street between Walnut and Chestnut.

 

Is it a mental health emergency?

Emotional Wellness

Mental Health Team

Private counseling with members of our Counseling Team is available to all students. In addition, our counselors may refer you to a psychiatrist in the event that the services of a medical doctor are in your best interest. Five free sessions with a member of the Counseling Team are included in your health services fee. Special arrangements may be available for students requiring extended care. Students can meet with our counselors by appointment only. All sessions are confidential. By utilizing our counseling services, you can learn to manage personal problems and situational crises effectively; learn self-care strategies to cope with academic stress, performance anxiety, relationship issues, gender identity, or addictions; and develop self-awareness, personal responsibility, and skills for life-long learning.

Contact Dean Tarditi for more information.

 

CARE Team

The Curtis CARE Team is a group of administrators poised to respond to situations that could disrupt a student’s academic participation or psychosocial wellbeing. CARE stands for Concern, Assessment, Response, and Evaluation, which is the task of the team.  When there is a student of concern, the CARE team will intervene, review the situation, and coordinate an action plan to support the student through the crisis, life event, or difficulty and maintain the health and safety of the individual and the greater community.

A student may be contacted by a member of the CARE Team if another member of the community feels there may be distress. Information shared with the CARE Team is only shared on a need-to-know basis.  Situations that may prompt contact by the CARE Team include:

      • Academic performance or attendance changes
      • Observable changes in demeanor, appearance, or hygiene
      • Altercations with teachers or other students
      • Classroom disruptions
      • Questionable or concerning academic submissions
      • Talking about violence to self or others
      • Alcohol or drug abuse

Being contacted by the CARE Team does NOT jeopardize or affect a student’s status at Curtis. The goal of the CARE Team is to intervene and support the student.  The CARE Team does not discipline or sanction a student.  Involvement with the CARE Team is not shared across campus nor a part of the student’s academic record.  The CARE Team exists for the benefit of the student and the health of our community.

 

MySSP app

MySSP is a Canadian health care company that connects you to certified clinicians right through your phone. Curtis pays for this service so that it is completely FREE for you.  You can chat or text with a counselor anytime, 24/7, and it is available from anywhere in the world.  The service is completely confidential.

Download on the App Store

 

Title IX 

 

Other Mental Health Resources

Additional mental health resources can be found on the Curtis Student Portal.

Social Wellness

Occupational Wellness

Financial Wellness

Financial Advising

  • Curtis is pleased to partner with a certified financial planner to offer free financial advising for musicians workshops throughout the year.

Wellness Day

  • Representatives from area banks typically attend the annual Wellness Day to provide individual advising on savings options for students.

Tax assistance

  • Each Spring, Curtis brings a certified public accountant (CPA) to campus to meet students individually and assist them in filing their annual tax return. As independent musicians, students often have paperwork from multiple employers and states.  Our CPA has decades of experience working with musicians and we are pleased to offer this service for free to students.

Individual counseling

Students can meet individually with the director of student financial assistance, Veronica McAuley [link to email] to discuss financial aid, grants, loans, and other resources.

Environmental Wellness

  • Residence Life
  • Lenfest Terrace – need photo and short copy about this space
  • Campus and Facilities – link to this page (under student life)
  • Quiet Room – need photo and short copy about this space
  • Recycling – need copy about recycling on campus
  • Security – need copy about our security team and procedures
  • Dining offerings with Bon Appetit
    • LINK to website and menus
    • LINK to dietician

Intellectual Wellness

Physical Wellness

Fitness reimbursements

  • Curtis provides financial assistance towards gym membership fees and fitness in order to encourage a healthy lifestyle and the good physical conditioning that is crucial to a student’s good health. If you can document usage of a facility of at least 15 times a semester (approximately once each week) you will receive $125 each semester towards the cost of a membership fee. Refer to the Curtis Financial Aid Handbook for more details or contact Dean Carpino.

Intermission sessions- link to portal

Dental Care

  • As a major metropolitan city, Philadelphia has a number of dentists in private practice, including several in the close vicinity of Curtis. Note: The student health insurance plan offered through Curtis includes coverage for accidental dental injury but does NOT include coverage for regular dental care. Contact Dean Carpino for more information.

Alexander Technique

    • Alexander Technique is an educational process that develops the ability to realign posture and avoids unnecessary muscular and mental tension. Alexander Technique is offered through Curtis and students may enroll at the beginning of each semester through the registrar’s office. Private instruction is provided by Ariel Weiss, Stanley Tucker, and Celeste Kelly (check this).
    • Recordings of past Alexander Technique workshops can be found on the Student Portal.

Physical therapy – need copy

  • Feldenkrais
    • The Feldenkrais method was created to reorganize connections between the brain and body and so improve body movement and psychological state. Contact Bob Chapra, 255 South 17th Street, Philadelphia (215) 732-9173 www.bobchapra.com
  • Academy Chiropractic
  • Injury prevention
  • Penn Student Health
    • Primary care is provided by University of Pennsylvania Student Health Service (SHS). Curtis has a long history with Penn in providing quality health care that is accessible and student-focused. All students, including those enrolled in the Student Health Insurance plan offered through Curtis, are encouraged to use SHS facilities whenever possible. All Curtis students can be seen at SHS regardless of their insurance coverage.
    • Located on the Penn campus at 3535 Market Street, Student Health Service (SHS) operates on an appointment system. Appointments may be scheduled in advance for non-urgent requests or for the same day for medical problems requiring more urgent attention.
    • https://shs.wellness.upenn.edu/
    • Services include:
      • Acupuncture
      • Allergies and Asthma
      • Gynecologic Care (uterine, vaginal, ovarian, and breast care; contraceptive management, birth control, cervical Pap tests)
      • Immunizations and Travel Medicine
      • Massage
      • Nutrition
      • Podiatry
      • Primary Care (well and sick visits, physicals, chronic disease management, sexually transmitted infections, transgender health)
      • Sexual Health
      • Smoking Cessation
      • Sports Medicine and Muscle Injury
      • Stress Reduction

Vybe Urgent Care

COVID protocols

Nutrition services – link to BonApp

Flu clinic

Wellness day

Condoms in Lenfest restrooms

Feminine products in Lenfest restrooms

LibGuides

  • https://libguides.curtis.edu/wellness

Structural Bodywork/ Rolfing

  • Structural bodywork is a technique that uses deep tissue manipulation that can release and realign the body, and helps to reduce muscular tension. Joy Carey 1241 Carpenter Street, Philadelphia (717) 519-7289 www.joycarey.com Linda Grace, M.A. Center City Philadelphia lindagrace@aol.com www.rolfinggrace.com

Spiritual Wellness

Quiet Room

Sunday mornings preserved

Area houses of worship